REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FEED SAFETY Chair: Kevin G. Custer, Des Moines,IA Vice Chair: Richard Sellers, Arlington, VA David C. Ailor, DC; Roy D.Brister, AR; Eric C. Gonder, NC; C. Ross Hamilton, TX; Jay Hawley, IN; LarryE. Hendricks, IL; Tom Holder, MD; Rex D. Holt, GA; David C. Kradel, PA;Elizabeth A. Lautner, IA; Gerald G. May, OH; David L. Meeker, VA; Gary D.Osweiler, IA; Jane F. Robens, MD; James E. Stocker, NC; H. Wesley Towers,DE; Elizabeth K. Wagstrom, IA; W. Douglas Waltman, GA; Gary L. Waters, MT.The Committee met at the Minneapolis Hilton Hotel, Minneapolis, Minnesota,Monday, October 16, 2006, 1:00-6:00 p.m., LaSalle Room. Twenty-three membersand quest were present. Dr. Burt Pritchett, Center for Veterinary Medicine(CVM), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), gave an update on agencyactivities relative to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), the AnimalFeed Safety System (AFSS) and contaminant limits. • BSE – The proposed rule(589.2001) to enhance the “feed rule” was published on October 6, 2005. CVMremains committed to publishing a final rule, but it is unlikely thatpublication will take place this year. FDA agrees that the economic impactwas under estimated and is conducting a new economic evaluation. Carcassdisposal is a major issue and revisions are needed relative to theenvironmental assessment. • AFSS – is a comprehensive, risk-based system forfeed manufacture and distribution to minimize risks to animal and humanhealth. It is intended to tie together regulation, policy and guidance. Thegoal is to complete the AFSS by the end of 2007. • Contaminant Limits –There is a lack of process for distinguishing feed hazards based upon theirrelative risks (Risk = Hazard x Exposure). The Feed Contaminants Program isscheduled for completion in 2010. Dr. Aaron Scott, Veterinary Services (VS),Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), United States Departmentof Agriculture (USDA) gave an update on BSE surveillance activities. Todate, 189,000+ cases of BSE have been diagnosed. Of those, 89 percentoccurred prior to 1997, and more than 96 percent have occurred in the UnitedKingdom (UK). USDA has conducted active surveillance since 1990.Surveillance is to monitor the presence of the disease in cattle, not toidentify every case. The enhanced surveillance program began in June 2004and ended in August 2006. More than 785,000 samples were analyzed. Twopositive samples were identified. The conclusion of the enhancedsurveillance program is that BSE prevalence is less than one infected animalper one million adult cattle. Dr. Scott emphasized the importance ofclinical history accompanying samples, as those samples will carry morerelative weight in the analysis of the data. Dr. Eric Nelson, President,American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), gave an update onassociation activities. AAFCO’s Model Feed Safety Program is designed toelevate the scope and effectiveness of current laws and regulations, andemerging systems and practices. The program will fill in the gaps ofregulations and increase stakeholder participation. Richard Sellers, VicePresident, American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), gave an update on theassociation’s Safe Feed/Safe Food program. The association is alsomonitoring European Union (EU) 183, which could put Hazard Analysis andCritical Control Point (HACCP) requirements on feed ingredients importedinto the EU. Dr. David Meeker, Vice President, National RenderersAssociation (NRA), gave an update on the association’s Code of PracticeCertification for rendering facilities, and rendered animal product blendingfacilities. Mr. Richard Sellers, AFIA introduced a new business itemquestioning the relevancy of the Committee on Feed Safety? Chair Custerresponded that the relevance of a Committee is based upon issues addressedand resolutions generated. Only six of the twenty-two committee membersattended the meeting. Discussions included the importance and need for astanding Committee on Feed Safety or could the Committee issues bedistributed to another Committee. The Chair will be working with USAHA’sExecutive Committee in reviewing how best to address the feed safety issuesat USAHA.